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Juneteenth resources & kids' books
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Hi Reader, This Friday is Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the actual end to slavery, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Historian Jemar Tisby recently referred to Juneteenth as "the counter-narrative to America 250" because it focuses on truth-telling rather than myth-making. My newest blog post has 9 children's books, plus videos, activities, and resources for Juneteenth. Here's what's inside: 🖤a brand new picture book that reads like a love letter to Black children 📖 a Ready to Read history of the holiday perfect for kids who are becoming confident readers ⛲a picture book that tells the story of Emancipation Park, founded in 1872 by Black community leaders in Houston to commemorate Juneteenth 🎶 a children's song and video about Juneteenth by my favorite children's performers (you won't be able to sit still!) 📺 videos for various ages about the history of the holiday 💠suggestions for how families who are not Black can reflect and show solidarity
Happy learning, Rebekah Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice​ |
Raising antiracist kids
Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Hi Reader, Over the next 11 days, your family will be exposed to a lot of half-truths and myths about the history of the United States. Celebrating the Declaration of Independence's assertion that "all men are created equal" without acknowledging the same celebrated document talks about how Britain hasn't protected colonists from "the merciless Indian Savages." Upholding the uniqueness of the U.S. Constitution, with no recognition that many of its ideas were taken from the Haudenosaunee...
Hi Reader, I've never met Dr. Debbie Reese, a children's literature scholar who is a member of the Nambé Pueblo nation, but I consider her a mentor. It's been years since I first heard her talk about what happens when you do an internet image search for Native Americans, but I still think about what she shared regularly. Typically, the top images are all of Native people of the past, not the present. This isn't true when you do searches for other racial and ethnic groups. When kids do realize...
Hi Reader, Now that I've finished my work on the 2026 Summer Reading Guide, I've had time to create and update book lists for LGBTQIAP+ Pride Month, which starts in just a few days. I've read so many wonderful books for all ages, from laugh-out-loud picture books about rainbow families to thoughtful novels about tweens figuring out who they are. Before I share the book lists, I want to give you a gentle reminder of just how important it is to supports books like these and their authors in our...